Our annual Holiday Gift Guide is here to help you find an excellent board game for that will help make memories for years to come. Like in previous years, we’re breaking down our guide into categories. This year we have Stocking Stuffers, Family Games, and Strategy Games.
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Stocking Stuffers
Cabanga!
Publisher: Amigos
Number of Players: 3 – 6
MSRP: $13
This Summer, we fell in love with a card game called Cabanga! from Amigos. Managing a hand of cards, players are trying to play across four color stacks in the center of the table. You create the smallest numerical gap possible because your opponents can give you any cards that they’re holding that fall within that gap.
Players want to get rid of their hand of cards to end the round and stick their opponents with points that are shown on the cards in their hand. Cabanga! is quick to teach and plays in around 30 minutes. It’s a game that families are going to love jumping into and is a great card game to show up in a stocking this Christmas season.
You can purchase Cabanga! at your local game store, online through Atomic Empire or at your local Barnes & Noble store.
Mojo
Publisher: 25th Century Games
Number of Players: 3 – 6
MSRP: $15
One of our most played card games of 2024 has been Mojo, a new imported game from 25th Century Games. With a hand of eight cards, players are trying to shed as many cards as they can. Players discard to a central pile, drawing a new card if they play a higher number onto the pile. If you play the exact same number, you’ll get to continue shedding cards.
Mojo is easy to learn and has lots of “wow” moments. Once a player has three or fewer cards in their hand, they place them facedown and will score them when the round is over. Be careful, if you’re the first one out but don’t have the lowest points, you’ll be penalized. Mojo supports up to eight players, scales well, and gets really competitive. This is one that will be on our table during all our family gatherings this season.
You can purchase Mojo at your local game store, through the 25th Century Games webstore or online through Amazon today.
Snakers
Publisher: Brothers in Games
Number of Players: 2 – 7
MSRP: $15
Full Review of Snakers
Snakers is a new family game from the team that created the trick-taking game Slava. Players are playing circular cards one of the available snakes that are on the table. You’ll connect matching colors, growing the length of the snake, twisting across the table, and making it tough for your opponents to play.
This game really shines as players target opponents with action cards that throw a wrench into their plans. Players are forced to pull new cards when they get trapped and can’t make a play. If your family is playing UNO at every family gathering, Snakers is going to be a refreshing change. This game supports younger gamers and has enough strategy for kids and adults to enjoy together. This is one time where finding a snake in your stocking is a pleasant surprise.
You can purchase Snakers from the Brothers in Games webstore.
Flip 7
Publisher: The OP
Number of Players: 3 – 8
MSRP: $13.99
Sometimes you just need a quick and exciting card game to get the family around the table. Flip 7 from The OP is that game. Players are being dealt cards until they choose to or are forced to “freeze”. Getting dealt a duplicate card means that you bust and lose the points collected during that round. Freeze at just the right time, and you’ll collect your points and maybe even some bonuses.
Flip 7 is a blast to play. With support for up to eight players, this game is a crowd favorite. While the game relies a lot on luck, players who are good with card counting and playing the odds will do really well. Each time we bring this game to the table, someone asks where can they purchase the game immediately. This is a great stocking stuffer for both kids and adults this Christmas.
Purchase Flip 7 from your local game store, from The OP webstore, or online through Amazon today.
Family Games
Doomlings
Publisher: Doomlings
Number of Players: 2 – 6
MSRP: $25
Full Review of Doomlings
It’s the end of the world and this cute card game is fun for the whole family. In this game, players are playing traits which score points, trigger special actions or even harm your opponents. Each round is marked by an event that players have to deal with. Eventually, catastrophe cards will be revealed that adds a wrinkle to your game plan. When the third catastrophe card is revealed, it’s the end of the world and time to count your points.
Doomlings was a game that really surprised us this year. The cute and colorful card art immediately draws you in while the game is accessible to a wide age range. Even though everything you need is in one box, there are expansions for the game that add some fun elements that can be swapped out from game to game. Doomlings is a lot of fun and a game that we’re happy to have in our collection.
You can find Doomlings at your local game store, Target stores nationwide, or online through Amazon today.
Hamster Roll
Publisher: 25th Century Games
Number of Players: 2 – 4
MSRP: $50
“What in the world are you playing?” is the comment we hear most when Hamster Roll hits the table. This year, 25th Century Games brought this fantastic dexterity game over to the US from Germany. Players are adding different shaped blocks to the hamster wheel as it moves forward across the table. Eventually, blocks will start to fall off and will be collected on the players turns. The first to place all their blocks is the winner.
Hamster Roll is fun, hilarious to play, and at times, very mean. This game is all about finding the perfect spot to place your block and leave your opponents with very few options. For years, this game was very tough to find. Thankfully, Hamster Roll is now widely available and is one of the most fun dexterity games you can purchase for the family.
You can purchase Hamster Roll from your local game store or from the 25th Century Games webstore today.
Cafe Baras
Publisher: Kids Table Board Gaming
Number of Players: 2 – 4
MSRP: $20
Full Review of Cafe Baras
My oldest daughter is in her “Capybara Era” right now. In Cafe Baras from KTBG, players are running a cafe and working to feed hungry customers and hopefully turn them into regulars. Feeding customers will earn you money that you can spend on introducing new food, drinks, and decor to your cafe. Once you’ve attracted 3 regulars, the game comes to a close.
Cafe Baras is a cute tableau building game that requires more strategy than you would imagine. The economy behind the game is tight but the gameplay is still very accessible for younger gamers. If you’re looking for a great card game that your family will enjoy for years, Cafe Baras is a fantastic gift to give this holiday season.
You can purchase Cafe Baras at your local game store or from the KTBG webstore today.
River Valley Glassworks
Publisher: Allplay
Number of Players: 1 – 5
MSRP: $39.99
I’ve had my eye on River Valley Glassworks since finding out about it in 2023. This game is now out in the wild and has been a lot of fun to play. This light strategy game has players collecting river glass from a central stream and adding it to a player board. The game flows nicely, has really fun artwork, and is a puzzle that is challenging to solve.
I’m usually the player with the lowest score in River Valley Glassworks, but I really enjoy it every time we play. It’s a game that is accessible for a wide age range and is a gift that we’ve actually given to others this year. River Valley Glassworks will be a big hit if it shows up under the tree this Christmas season.
Purchase River Valley Glassworks at your local game store, from the Allplay webstore or online through Amazon today.
JamSumo
Publisher: Brown Castle Games
Number of Players: 2 – 6
MSRP: $69.99
We picked up a JamSumo board this Summer at Origins and haven’t looked back. After falling in love with Crokinole and purchasing a board from Brown Castle Games, we had to check out JamSumo, an odd little dexterity game that not many people know about. Players flick dice to sink shots into a central hole on the platform in the “Jam” phase of the game. In the “Sumo” phase, players are using these dice to then knock their opponents off the platform and keep their dice values on the highest numbers.
JamSumo is wild and a lot of fun to play. The boards that Brown Castle Games produces supports up to 6 players and comes with everything you need in this amazing wooden board. The production quality is impressive and has some great table presence. JamSumo is a game that is traveling with us this holiday season and I know it’s going to be a huge hit with family and friends.
Purchase your JamSumo board from the Brown Castle Games webstore today.
Strategy Games
Tesseract
Publisher: Smirk & Dagger
Number of Players: 1 – 4
MSRP: $55
Full Review of Tesseract
For the co-op gamer in your life, Tesseract is a fantastic game that players work through together. Players have unique abilities as they work to solve the colorful dice cube sitting in the middle of the table. This game is challenging, has a excellent table presence, and has multiple difficulty levels to tackle.
Tesseract was a challenge to beat when it first hit the table. Finding success in this game can only happen when players work together and combine their unique abilities at just the right times. If you have someone in your life that enjoys cooperative games, I can’t think of a better one to give this season.
You can purchase Tesseract at your local game store or through Amazon today.
Forges of Ravenshire
Publisher: BA Games
Number of Players: 1 – 4
MSRP: $70
Full Review of Forges of Ravenshire
One of my favorite releases this year has to be Forges of Ravenshire. This dice placement game is such a satisfying experience and the mechanics are really easy to understand. Players are running a forge and building weapons, armor and shield contracts. Gathering resources happens through dice placement and building an engine in three different areas of expertise.
I really enjoy just about everything in this game. Every time I play, I feel like I get better and more efficient with running my forge. I love seeing how my friends light up once they get a good engine going on their player board and complete contracts in the game. With chunky dice and great components, this game is a premium gift for the gamer in your life.
You can purchase Forges of Ravenshire at your local game store, online through the BA Games webstore or through Amazon today.
Inventions: Evolution of Ideas
Publisher: Eagle-Gryphon Games
Number of Players: 1 – 4
MSRP: $135
This year I’ve played more games from designer Vital Lacerda than in any previous year. Inventions: Evolution of Ideas takes players from the creation of basic stone age tools through the creation of the latest computer technology. This worker placement game has you sharing new inventions and iterating on those ideas to drive society forward.
We all have that person in our life that loves a really complex game that will challenge them. Inventions: Evolution of Ideas is one of those games. With beautiful artwork from Ian O’Toole and premium components from Eagle-Gryphon Games, Inventions has a lot to love. If you have a gamer that isn’t afraid to tackle a game that will make your brain burn, this may be a great gift this holiday season.
You can purchase Inventions: Evolution of Ideas from your local game store, the Eagle-Gryphon webstore or through Amazon today.
Wayfarers of the South Tigris
Publisher: Garpill Games / Renegade Game Studio
Number of Players: 1 – 4
MSRP: $60
Garphill Games makes some great games and this is one that has hit the table over and over this year. Wayfarers of the South Tigris is a tableau building game where players explore waterways, discover new lands, and map out the stars. There are lots of ways to score victory points as you make discoveries and journal your progress on the central board.
Wayfarers of the South Tigris is one of my favorites in the South Tigris trilogy of games that have been published since 2022. The worker placement mechanic feels fresh and the artwork from the Mico is top-notch as expected. If you’re looking for a nice heavy game to gift this holiday season, Wayfarers is a great option.
You can purchase Wayfarers of the South Tigris from your local game store or online through Amazon today.
